Before the doors of that chief's castle, and at a place known afterwards as Rath-Trena, Patrick sought by watching, prayer, and fasting, to soften his
obdurate
heart.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
xxii.
, p.
325.
"•3 We find the following rendering, in the Iiish Tripartite Life : "A blessing on the men of Muman, men, sons, women. A blessing on the land that gives them food. A blessing on all treasures produced upon tl;o plains. A blessing upon Munster. A blessing on their woods, and on their sloping plains. A blessing on their glens. A bless- ing on their hills. As the sands of the sea under ships, so numerous may be their homesteads, on slopes, on plains, on moun- tains, and on peaks. ''
following derivation
:
" ^yvjir^z/- enim patrio
sermone, clamores, vel tumultum ex Iffititia
procedentem significat. "
3^ We are told, in the Irish Tripartite Life, that this place was so called, on ac- count of the shouts of joy the people raised,
when they here gazed upon him ; the native
word, lifosini^ad, signifying,
"
an incentive,"
name, from the Irish word, brosna, faggot," or " a bundle of sticks. "
*'
a
39 So is it noticed by Jocelyn. The Tri-
partite Life does not, indeed, mention a river, but a place so called. There is a
town, called Brosna, placed by Seward, in
"
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 713
the private banquet, prepared for himself and for his disciples, so that it sufficed for the refection of the vast multitudes, who were present, from all
the adjacent parts of Munster, including the Ossorians, and strangers from other parts of Ireland. t^ He was with Bishop Trian,47 or St. TrianuSj-t^ a pilgrim of the Romans, who is said to have then lived, at a place, called Craibhech,49 or Creevagh. s° More succinctly are the foregoing particulars related, in the Irish, than in the Latin Tripartite, Life of our saint ; while Jocelyn has added legendary matter, in reference to them,5i and which we do not find drawn from any other known source. ^'
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OF ST. PATRICK, WHILE PASSING THROUGH HY-FAILGE, AND MARTYRDOM OF HIS CHARIOTEER, ODHRAN—THE APOSTLE RETURNS TO LEGALE— JUDGMENT VISITED ON TRIAN—CONVERSION OF MACHALDUS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT MISSION IN THE ISLE OF MAN—DRUMBO—EUCHODIUS, KING IN ULSTER—HIS SON, ST. DOMANGART—ST. PATRICK LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF A CHURCH, AT LOUTH
; BUT, HE IS WARNED BY AN ANGEL, TO FOUND HIS GREAT CATHEDRAL, AT ARMAGH.
After the illustrious bishop had thus confirmed the people of Munster, in knowledge, and in a love for the true God, blessing them, he took a journey,
«"
The Third Life calls him, Fota filius
Forath. "
^5 The Third Life states, he was only ten
years in the tomb, and that fourteen other men were raised to life with him.
'
negamus nee astruimus.
''^ No very definite account of him is
given, by Colgan, who refers to a holy man of the name, whose feast occurs, at the 22nd or23rdofRlarch; but,nocorrectidentifica- tion is there to be found.
**
Jocelyn tliils records these incidents :
By Divine Providence, in happened, that no
victuals could be had for that great company.
However, the blessed Bishop, desirous of
giving the multitude a spiritual and corporal it is Craibhecha ; in Jocelyn, it is called
refection, commanded a cow, by whose milk St. Trianus lived, to be made ready for
Chothach ; while, in the Third Life, it is Croibech.
5° There is a place, so called, in the parish of Clonmacnois, King's County, and a fore directed his prayers to the heavenly Creeve, in the parish of Ardnurcher, or sanctuary, and, lo ! there ran out of the ad- Horseleap, in the south of Westmeatli County. Both of these places lie near to
supper. But,whatwasthisamongsogreat a company ? remarks Jocelyn. Patrick there-
joining wood two large stags, and two large
hogs. These presented themselves before
the saint. He ordered, that they should be
killed, and that likewise they should be cluded among nineteen others, who were made ready for feeding the multitude. All raised from the grave. He then adds : All the company sat down to supper, and that those, who were so miraculously restored to little provision was laid before them. This the number of the living, related in the resembled the multiplication of the five
barley loaves and two fishes. (St. Matt. XV. ) By virtue of the saint's benediction, the five animals served to satisfy all the
people present so plentifully, that a great deal was gathered up, after the feast, and carried thence. This miraculous multipli- cation of food, adds Jocelyn, need not seem incredible, to any, who will reflect with due consideration, upon our Saviour's promise : " He that believeth in me, the works that I do, he shall also perform, and greater than these he shall do. " (St. John, xiv. 12. ) Then follow circumstances, too ridiculous
hearing of all the assembly, what they had seen, touching the toi'ments of hell. They likewise proclaimed Patrick's God, to be the true and living God. King Oengus, and his subjects magnified the Lord, and honoured the saint, as their high priest, and their proper Apostle. Those men, who were revived, St. Patrick christened. After- wards, ^hey became monks, under the obedience of St. Trianus, with whom they lived, until overtaken by a second death. King ^ngus, and the hosts assembled, bidding St. Patrick farewell, returned to their respective homes. See, also, the Third Life.
for publication.
account
bile Deo dicimus, sed factum hoc fuisse nee
going
:
"Nos vero nihil
impossi-
Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixiii. , p. 26,
Jocelyn adds, to the tore-
5^ See " Trias Colgan's
^^ The Third Life calls him Tria.
^5 Such is the denomination given, in the Latin Tripartite Life ; in the Irish version,
the northern Brosna River.
S' Thus Jocelyn says, that Fota was in-
714 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
towards the North. He first went through the territory of Hy-Failge,^ which before the English invasion, comprised the present Baronies of Ophaley, in
the county of Kildare, with parts of the King's and Queen's Counties. Here, twopowerfulchieftainsruled,atthistime; one,evil-inclined,beingnamed
Failge Berraide,^ or Foilge Berrad,3 while the other, called Failge RoSj-^ had a singular affection for St. Patrick, whom he treated with every mark of
respect. Now, Foilge Berrad had boasted, that if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge for the destruction of his god, the idol Crom Cruach. This boast of Foilge was concealed from Patrick, by his people. As they travelled through Hy-Failge, Odran,s his charioteer, said, "Since, I have been a long time driving for you, O Patrick, let me take the chief seat for this Be the Ofather "
day. you charioteer, ! St. Patrick did so, at a place, called after his disciple, Desert Odran,^ whither Foilge had come. Mistaking the master for his servant, that wicked chieftain dealt a thrust of his spear, through Odran,7 who was in the guise of Patrick. ^ This tragic event happened,nearamountain,9calledBrig-damh;'° and,itisstatedtohavebeen over a stream, called the Suainin, which is said to have been in the parish and baronyofGeashill,"intheKing'sCounty. " ByColgan,thismartyrdomof Odhran has been ascribed to about, or after, the middle of the fifth century ;'3 or, as Ussher calculates,^^ at a. d. 456. ^5 As to Foilge Ros, St. Patrick
and nn. 60, 61, p. 32. Sexta Vita S. Pa- tricii, cap. Ixxvi. , Ixxvii,, Ixxviii. , pp. 82,
Rights," p. 193, n. (b), and pp. 216, 217, 11. (r. )
"
83, and nn. 77, 78, p. 112, cap. xcvi. , p. 87,
cap, cxxviii. , cxxix. , pp. 93, 94. Septiraa
Vita S, Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xlviii. , xlix. ,
1. , li. , Iii. , liv. , Iv. , Ivi. , pp. 158, 159, and cular district he selects for its position, nn. 80, 81, 82, 83, p. 185. Miss Cusack's Archdall conjectured, that Disert-Odhrain
"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," was identical with Tir-Oenaichs, in the "
pp. 472 to 476, with the accompanying Queen's County. See Monasticon Hiber- notes. — nicum," p. 594.
'7 Chapter xxi. It obtained this name,
from Ros Failge, or " Ross of the Kings. " He was the eldest son, it has been said, of
CathaoirMor, Kingof Leinster,and Monarch of Ireland, slain a. d. 122. Yet, this state-
There is an account of this matter, and a spirited woodcut illustration of Odhran's martyrdom, in Miss M. F. Cusack's "Patriot's History of Ireland," chap, iv. , pp. 66, 67, 120.
^ Then we are tite, oftheresult.
"
Patrick.
Odran. "Be it so," replied Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell, it is stated.
ment seems inconsistent with the
in the Irish
narrative, where Failge Ros is made to be a
contemporary of St. Patrick. Perhaps,
however, a distinction is to be drawn regard- ing the former and the latter.
^
Upon the tree of Bridam," said
Tripartite
told, "Myanathema,"cried
9 Although it was the site of several ing the Tripartite Life, only one Failge, or battles, recorded in Dr. O'Donovan's Foilge, is mentioned. Jocelyn calls him " Annals of the Four Masters," as at A. M.
''
Foylge Rufus. "
3 In the Third Life, he is called Foilge,
3501, audat A. D. 596, vol; i. , pp. 28, 29, and n. (a), and pp. 222, 223, n. (o), yet the place has not been clearly identified.
" This denomination " the hill of signifies
the oxen. "
" The extent of both is the same, and
In the other Acts of St. Patrick, except-
and there, a miraculous circumstance, in re-
ference to is introduced. Ber- him, Foilge
rad's name occurs not, in the right line of
the O'Conor Faly pedigree ; but, he is "
mentioned, in Dr. O'Donovan's Annals shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
oftheFourMasters,"vohi. , pp. 162,163, at A. D. 501, as having slain Fiacha, son of
land Maps for the King's County," Sheets 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 33.
'-
The writer of a note, in Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," &c. , incorrectly has Wattstown, parish of Portlenon, and County the barony of Geashil, in the Queen's
Niall, at the battle of Freamhain, thought to be the hill of Fi-ewin, in the townland of
Westmeath. See ibid. , p. 89, n. (w. )
4 From him were descended, it is said, the great families of O'Conor Faly,
O'Dempsey of Clanmalier, and O'Dunne of
Hi or See O'Dono- Regan, Iregan. John
County.
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xix.
van's
''
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of
5 His festival was held, according to some Martyrologies, on the 19th of Februaiy.
As if all Hy-Failge were in the parti-
Februarii.
P- 371- 'See his
that year.
De S. Odrano Martyre, cap. v. ,
" "Index Chronologicus, at
Tripar-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 715
blessed him, and his children were in the district, at that time, when the Irish Tripartite Life was written.
Again, St. Patrick seems to have returned towards Lecale, in Ulster, although the exact course he took, through Leinster, cannot well be ascer- tained, from any of his biographers. However, we are informed, that he passed along the public highway, known as Midh-Luachra. ^^ In Mudornia,''
he found a company of carpenters, cutting down great oak or yew trees. '^ But, their axes were edgeless, and those poor men were quite wearied and out of breath, while the skin and flesh were torn from their hands, even to the very sinews and bones. Those wretched persons were slaves, belonging to Trian,'^9 son of Fiac, son to Amalgad. -° Those men are related, to have borne, in subjection and afiiiction, the rule of their cruel task-master ; so much so, that they were not allowed whetstones, to sharpen their axes or irons, in order that their work might become the heavier and more difficult.
The saint, compassionating their distress, gave them his blessing ; whereupon they recovered strength, their hands were healed, and their hatchets became
so sharply edged, that they cut the solid trees, with as little difficulty, as if these had been tender twigs. This prodigious effect of the saint's blessing continuedwiththem,untilsuchtimeasheprocuredtheirrelease. Toeffect this object, he went to their cruel lord ; but, Trian would not admit the saint's intercession, on behalf of those serfs.
Before the doors of that chief's castle, and at a place known afterwards as Rath-Trena, Patrick sought by watching, prayer, and fasting, to soften his obdurate heart. According to a curious custom'^* of our ancestors, our holy Apostle is said to have fasted, at or before Trian's fort ; but, without having his petition granted, ere he de- parted. The saint, after three days' fast and prayer, came again, with great submission, ta procure their exemption from bondage. But, he found this cruel chief to be like another Pharaoh. Presently Trian got up into his chariot, and with a design to aggravate still more the yoke of affliction. St.
'S With this computation, the Rev. Dr.
^° This seems to be a mistranscript for
Imchadh, as found in the pedigrees,
*' Some illustrations of this are practice
explained, in the Irish Laws of Plaintiff or
Creditor, and of those relating to Defendant
Lanigan seems to agree.
cal of History
"
See Ecclesiasti-
Ireland," sect, xi. , n. 114, p. 305.
vol.
i. , chap, vi. ,
**
According to the Tripartite Lives of
our saint. This is said to be the Moyry or Debtor, in the case of distraint. If the
Pass—also called Slighe-Midluachair—and Defendant or Debtor were a person of chief-
it lies between Dundalk and Newry. See tain grade, it was necessary, not only to give
""
the Ulster Journal of Archeology," in an article, on the Kilnasagart stone, which is near that pass. It was one of the principal roads, leading from Tara, into the north of Ireland. Its exact position has not been ascertained ; but, it is thought, to have ex- tended into the county of Down. See
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ix. , p. 314. Also, Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 102 to 105, and nn. (1, n). Also, vol. ii. , pp. 968, 969, and n. (x. ) See, likewise, John O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," Introduction, p. lix.
'? So is the district denominated, by
Jocelyn. Most likely, it was Crich-Mughdorn, or Cremorne, in the county of Monaghan.
'^
While the Irish Tripartite Life states, these trees to have been of yew, the Latin Tripartite calls them oak trees.
- '9 He is said to have been brother to St. Patrick's first Ulster convert, Trichem.
notice, but also to fast upon him. " This
fasting upon him consisted, in going to his residence, and in waiting there for a certain time without food. If the Plaintiff" did not, within a certain time, receive satisfaction for his claim, or a pledge for it ; forthwith, accompanied by a law-agent, witnesses, and others, he seized his distress. This equiva- lent, when seized, in certain cases was liable to a "stay," (rt«a<//4), which was a period, varying according to fixed rules, and during which the Debtor received back the distress, and retained it in his own keeping, the Creditor ttill having a lien upon it. The further proceedings up to and in case of for-
feiture are also fully explained in an
"
Intro- duction to the Brehon Laws of Ireland,"
vol. i. , p. xiv.
^^ The Latin Tiipartite Life thus records
" Quod videns vir Beatus prae-
this event
monendo, quam possit tyranno inferre vin- dictam, sputum ejecit, cujus pars cecidit in
:
7i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Patrick even wrought a miracle, to effect his purpose. "^ God, however, avenged the contempt, offered to his new Moses; for lo ! Trian's horses precipi-
tated themselves, and with great violence, into a stagnant pool of water, where the man of Belial was drowned. Then his captives, or slaves, were re-
stored to their long-expected liberty. In memory of this remarkable judg- ment, the pool or lake thenceforth received the denomination, Loch-Trena. =^3 He will not arise out of that lake, adds the Irish Tripartite, until the vespers of judgment, and, even then, it will not be to happiness.
Moved by this example, the wife of that king followed Patrick, in sighs and tears. She performed penance, and knelt before the holy man, so that she and her offspring might not suffer. Patrick blessed her and the beings she then carried in her womb. One of these was Setna,^-* or Sedna, otherwise called Sedonius,"5 and larlaid,^^ or Hiarlath,^^ was the other; and both were sons of Trian, being distinguished for their future sanctity. Sechnall^^ bap- tized Setna, and it was Patrick that baptized larlaid. The holy Apostle said, that the latter should be his successor afterwards, in the See of Armagh.
There was a man, who lived, about this period, in the country of Uladh,^9 and at a place called Magh-Inis,3° or " the Insular plain. " He is said to have been impious, and a son of death. s'' His name was ]\Iac Cuill,3^ Latinized, Machaldus, or ]Maccaldus,33 and he Avas leader of a robber band,34 who were plundering and killing the people, belonging to this region. On a certain occasion, the Blessed Patrick and his companions passed by ; and,
Maccaldus, from an eminence, perceived their approach. Full of malice, this tyrant3S desired to kill the holy missionary. 3"^ Mac-Cuill said to his
followers
:
" Behold the tailcenn'^^ and celebrated preacher of false doctrine,
that prophet, who is deceiving everyone, wishing to destroy the tenets and idols of our fathers ; teaching about a new and an unknown God ; let us arise, and make an attack on him, and then we shall see if his God can assisthim. " Thenitwasresolved,tolayasnareforthesaint. Therobbers brought one of their people, called Garbanus, or Garban, on a bier, as if he were
jacentem coram eis petram : qua tacta illico in tres partes coram oculis praesentium
divisa concrepuit ; una vero pars impetu subitaneo perlata est in locum valde remo-
It was also called Leth-cathuil. See Dr.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. i. , n. (w), p. 36.
3' In the Third Life, he is called Maguil.
See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxiii. , p. the Irish Tripartite Life, Two-thirds of 27. Probus calls him Mac-fail. See
tum. " Tlien, Patrick said, according to "
the fast on the rock, another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There shall not be a king nor roydamhna of the children of Trian. He shall die prematu- rely, and he shall go down to a bitter hell. "
"
'^ Anglicised
"< According to the Irish Tripartite Life. '^ So is the name written, in the Latin
Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ix. , x. , PP- 52, 53-
3^ Colgan refers his Acts and festival, to the 25th of April. Jocelyn calls \\\m Maguil. He is noted, in the Irish Tripar- tite Life, as in the text.
33 Thus is he noticed, in the Latin Tri-
partite Life.
3-» has his name et Jocelyn "Maguil, qui
Machaldus. " See cap. cli. , p. 98.
35 The Fourth Life of our saint calls him
See cap. Ixxxi. , p. 45.
the lake of Trian.
Life. He is said to have been venerated, on the i6th of June.
'^ According to the Irish Tripartite Life. ^7 According to the Latin Tripartite Life.
Tripartite
** The
a Cyclops. 3=' We are
saint of the county of Meath.
Dunshaughlin,
in
this man placed, on his own head and on the heads of his companions, certain diabolical signs,
which are called Diberc, so that all might behold, how devoted was their brotherhood to the service of S. itan.
37 This term, as addressed to our saint, is
*9
•
In Uladh, near Magh Inis, lived a chief,
Fierce man and fell. "
patron
told, by Jocelyn,
Thus commences one of Aubrey de Vere's
poems, headed, "St. Patrick and the Im-
postor ; or ]\Iac Kyle of Man. " See only in the Irish Tripartite Life.
"
3° Now Lecale, in the county of Down. coiTectly interprets its meaning in Latin,
Legends
of St. Patrick,"
pp.
86 to
93.
3** The author of the Fifth thus in- Life,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 717
dead,andtobepretentiouslyresuscitatedbySt. Patrick. Thus,theythoughtto
deceive our Apostle. The robbers threw a cover over the face and body of
""
their comrade. Cure for us," said they to Patrick, our companion, and
beseech your God to awake him from death. " " My debroth" 3^ replied the saint, "I should not wonder, if he were really dead. '' He also added : "the covering of Garban shall be the covering of a dead body ; but, I tell you even more, for it is Garban Avho shall lie under it. " His friends removed the covering from Garban's face, and they found it to be so. 39
became with fear and astonishment mute,
cried "
out, Truly
then
this is a man of God. " They were all moved to repentance, for their impious
act, and they believed at once, receiving baptism, and promising a change of
Mac Cuill professed the Faith, also, and he resolved on doing heroic
life.
acts of penance. He went to the sea, and embarked in a cot, formed out of one hide, obeying the command of Blessed Patrick. Garban was awakened from death, however, through tlie prayers of our Apostle. To satisfy more fully for his crimes, Mac Cuill made his confession, and he was told, to leave his native country and friends, to give all he possessed to the poor, and afterwards to live an austere life. That very day, he resolved to make a perpetual sacrifice of the world and of its goods. His right hand was kept, during the sea-course, towards Magh-Inis, and God's holy providence, guiding his bark over the waves, at last he reached Manann,t° or Eubonia,-'' now called theIsleofMan,intheIrishsea. ^^ Hefoundtheretwovenerablepersons,who had landed before him, on that island,''^ and who are called, Coninnri,''-* or Con- derius,'^5 and Romael*^ or Romailus. ''? These preached the word of God, and established the faith, in Manann ; and, through their teaching, the people ot that island were baptized, and they believed in Christ. '*^ Those missionaries were very exemplary, in their conduct and conversation. When they saw
"quod laboratis, non proderit vobis. " Col- gan renders it correctly, as "Deus mens
judicii," or, "judicem. "
39 Thus were verified the words of St.
Peter Chrysologus : "Qui jocari voluerit
that now bears his name. Released from
his perilous situation, he retired to the mountains. He there consecrated his life
to religion. Becoming exemplary for piety, at length he was elected bisliop over Man, by the wishes of the clergy and people. It is said, St. Brigid from Ireland visited him, owing to his reputation for sanctity. She is even said to have received the veil from his hands. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man," By a Resident, pp. 22, 23. How- ever, in tlie latter particular, Maughold has been confounded with St. Maccalle.
*3 The conversion of the Robber Chief, Machaldus, is told in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts,"
pp. 327, 328.
^* He is thus designated, in the Irish Tri-
cum diab—olo, non poterit gaudere cum "
Christo. " Breviarium Romanum," iv. Dec. Noct. ii. , Lect. v.
*°Camdenhasit Menania,in"Britan-
nica," col. 1439. But, Orosius added the
letter M, as a prefix to the original Evania, and thus made the name, Mevania. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernipe,"
xiii. Januarii. De S. Connano Episcop. Mannise, n. 4, p. 60. From the latter
designation came Mannia, now iNIan.
•' Ard-Ebnanensis is also a name given to the Isle of Man. This denomination, Ard- ebnanensis, is considered to have been de-
rived, from Ard-Ebnana, the "hill of partite Life. In the Fourth Life, he is
Evania," or Man. The Irish called the
island, Eumhonia, i. e. Eubonia, as Gildas and others have it. They termed it, also,
called Conindrius, and his feast is referred, by Colgan, to the 17th of November,
^^ He is thus named, in the Latin Tripar-
*
Eumhania, or Exivania, whence came tite.
Evania. ^* So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
*^ The Manx have a legend, that St. Life. He is named Romulus, in the Fourth, Maughold, a leader of banditti in Ireland— Fifth and Sixth Lives, while Colgan refers
either as a punishment, or according to
his festival, to the l8th of November,
other accounts, a
by voluntary
'•'' Heisthusnamed,intheLatin tite Life.
act of After- wai-ds he was driven ashore, in a small boat, and on the north part of the island,
Tripar-
penance—was bound hand and foot.
; and,
they
*^ See Rev. J. R.
"•3 We find the following rendering, in the Iiish Tripartite Life : "A blessing on the men of Muman, men, sons, women. A blessing on the land that gives them food. A blessing on all treasures produced upon tl;o plains. A blessing upon Munster. A blessing on their woods, and on their sloping plains. A blessing on their glens. A bless- ing on their hills. As the sands of the sea under ships, so numerous may be their homesteads, on slopes, on plains, on moun- tains, and on peaks. ''
following derivation
:
" ^yvjir^z/- enim patrio
sermone, clamores, vel tumultum ex Iffititia
procedentem significat. "
3^ We are told, in the Irish Tripartite Life, that this place was so called, on ac- count of the shouts of joy the people raised,
when they here gazed upon him ; the native
word, lifosini^ad, signifying,
"
an incentive,"
name, from the Irish word, brosna, faggot," or " a bundle of sticks. "
*'
a
39 So is it noticed by Jocelyn. The Tri-
partite Life does not, indeed, mention a river, but a place so called. There is a
town, called Brosna, placed by Seward, in
"
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 713
the private banquet, prepared for himself and for his disciples, so that it sufficed for the refection of the vast multitudes, who were present, from all
the adjacent parts of Munster, including the Ossorians, and strangers from other parts of Ireland. t^ He was with Bishop Trian,47 or St. TrianuSj-t^ a pilgrim of the Romans, who is said to have then lived, at a place, called Craibhech,49 or Creevagh. s° More succinctly are the foregoing particulars related, in the Irish, than in the Latin Tripartite, Life of our saint ; while Jocelyn has added legendary matter, in reference to them,5i and which we do not find drawn from any other known source. ^'
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OF ST. PATRICK, WHILE PASSING THROUGH HY-FAILGE, AND MARTYRDOM OF HIS CHARIOTEER, ODHRAN—THE APOSTLE RETURNS TO LEGALE— JUDGMENT VISITED ON TRIAN—CONVERSION OF MACHALDUS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT MISSION IN THE ISLE OF MAN—DRUMBO—EUCHODIUS, KING IN ULSTER—HIS SON, ST. DOMANGART—ST. PATRICK LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF A CHURCH, AT LOUTH
; BUT, HE IS WARNED BY AN ANGEL, TO FOUND HIS GREAT CATHEDRAL, AT ARMAGH.
After the illustrious bishop had thus confirmed the people of Munster, in knowledge, and in a love for the true God, blessing them, he took a journey,
«"
The Third Life calls him, Fota filius
Forath. "
^5 The Third Life states, he was only ten
years in the tomb, and that fourteen other men were raised to life with him.
'
negamus nee astruimus.
''^ No very definite account of him is
given, by Colgan, who refers to a holy man of the name, whose feast occurs, at the 22nd or23rdofRlarch; but,nocorrectidentifica- tion is there to be found.
**
Jocelyn tliils records these incidents :
By Divine Providence, in happened, that no
victuals could be had for that great company.
However, the blessed Bishop, desirous of
giving the multitude a spiritual and corporal it is Craibhecha ; in Jocelyn, it is called
refection, commanded a cow, by whose milk St. Trianus lived, to be made ready for
Chothach ; while, in the Third Life, it is Croibech.
5° There is a place, so called, in the parish of Clonmacnois, King's County, and a fore directed his prayers to the heavenly Creeve, in the parish of Ardnurcher, or sanctuary, and, lo ! there ran out of the ad- Horseleap, in the south of Westmeatli County. Both of these places lie near to
supper. But,whatwasthisamongsogreat a company ? remarks Jocelyn. Patrick there-
joining wood two large stags, and two large
hogs. These presented themselves before
the saint. He ordered, that they should be
killed, and that likewise they should be cluded among nineteen others, who were made ready for feeding the multitude. All raised from the grave. He then adds : All the company sat down to supper, and that those, who were so miraculously restored to little provision was laid before them. This the number of the living, related in the resembled the multiplication of the five
barley loaves and two fishes. (St. Matt. XV. ) By virtue of the saint's benediction, the five animals served to satisfy all the
people present so plentifully, that a great deal was gathered up, after the feast, and carried thence. This miraculous multipli- cation of food, adds Jocelyn, need not seem incredible, to any, who will reflect with due consideration, upon our Saviour's promise : " He that believeth in me, the works that I do, he shall also perform, and greater than these he shall do. " (St. John, xiv. 12. ) Then follow circumstances, too ridiculous
hearing of all the assembly, what they had seen, touching the toi'ments of hell. They likewise proclaimed Patrick's God, to be the true and living God. King Oengus, and his subjects magnified the Lord, and honoured the saint, as their high priest, and their proper Apostle. Those men, who were revived, St. Patrick christened. After- wards, ^hey became monks, under the obedience of St. Trianus, with whom they lived, until overtaken by a second death. King ^ngus, and the hosts assembled, bidding St. Patrick farewell, returned to their respective homes. See, also, the Third Life.
for publication.
account
bile Deo dicimus, sed factum hoc fuisse nee
going
:
"Nos vero nihil
impossi-
Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixiii. , p. 26,
Jocelyn adds, to the tore-
5^ See " Trias Colgan's
^^ The Third Life calls him Tria.
^5 Such is the denomination given, in the Latin Tripartite Life ; in the Irish version,
the northern Brosna River.
S' Thus Jocelyn says, that Fota was in-
714 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
towards the North. He first went through the territory of Hy-Failge,^ which before the English invasion, comprised the present Baronies of Ophaley, in
the county of Kildare, with parts of the King's and Queen's Counties. Here, twopowerfulchieftainsruled,atthistime; one,evil-inclined,beingnamed
Failge Berraide,^ or Foilge Berrad,3 while the other, called Failge RoSj-^ had a singular affection for St. Patrick, whom he treated with every mark of
respect. Now, Foilge Berrad had boasted, that if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge for the destruction of his god, the idol Crom Cruach. This boast of Foilge was concealed from Patrick, by his people. As they travelled through Hy-Failge, Odran,s his charioteer, said, "Since, I have been a long time driving for you, O Patrick, let me take the chief seat for this Be the Ofather "
day. you charioteer, ! St. Patrick did so, at a place, called after his disciple, Desert Odran,^ whither Foilge had come. Mistaking the master for his servant, that wicked chieftain dealt a thrust of his spear, through Odran,7 who was in the guise of Patrick. ^ This tragic event happened,nearamountain,9calledBrig-damh;'° and,itisstatedtohavebeen over a stream, called the Suainin, which is said to have been in the parish and baronyofGeashill,"intheKing'sCounty. " ByColgan,thismartyrdomof Odhran has been ascribed to about, or after, the middle of the fifth century ;'3 or, as Ussher calculates,^^ at a. d. 456. ^5 As to Foilge Ros, St. Patrick
and nn. 60, 61, p. 32. Sexta Vita S. Pa- tricii, cap. Ixxvi. , Ixxvii,, Ixxviii. , pp. 82,
Rights," p. 193, n. (b), and pp. 216, 217, 11. (r. )
"
83, and nn. 77, 78, p. 112, cap. xcvi. , p. 87,
cap, cxxviii. , cxxix. , pp. 93, 94. Septiraa
Vita S, Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xlviii. , xlix. ,
1. , li. , Iii. , liv. , Iv. , Ivi. , pp. 158, 159, and cular district he selects for its position, nn. 80, 81, 82, 83, p. 185. Miss Cusack's Archdall conjectured, that Disert-Odhrain
"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," was identical with Tir-Oenaichs, in the "
pp. 472 to 476, with the accompanying Queen's County. See Monasticon Hiber- notes. — nicum," p. 594.
'7 Chapter xxi. It obtained this name,
from Ros Failge, or " Ross of the Kings. " He was the eldest son, it has been said, of
CathaoirMor, Kingof Leinster,and Monarch of Ireland, slain a. d. 122. Yet, this state-
There is an account of this matter, and a spirited woodcut illustration of Odhran's martyrdom, in Miss M. F. Cusack's "Patriot's History of Ireland," chap, iv. , pp. 66, 67, 120.
^ Then we are tite, oftheresult.
"
Patrick.
Odran. "Be it so," replied Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell, it is stated.
ment seems inconsistent with the
in the Irish
narrative, where Failge Ros is made to be a
contemporary of St. Patrick. Perhaps,
however, a distinction is to be drawn regard- ing the former and the latter.
^
Upon the tree of Bridam," said
Tripartite
told, "Myanathema,"cried
9 Although it was the site of several ing the Tripartite Life, only one Failge, or battles, recorded in Dr. O'Donovan's Foilge, is mentioned. Jocelyn calls him " Annals of the Four Masters," as at A. M.
''
Foylge Rufus. "
3 In the Third Life, he is called Foilge,
3501, audat A. D. 596, vol; i. , pp. 28, 29, and n. (a), and pp. 222, 223, n. (o), yet the place has not been clearly identified.
" This denomination " the hill of signifies
the oxen. "
" The extent of both is the same, and
In the other Acts of St. Patrick, except-
and there, a miraculous circumstance, in re-
ference to is introduced. Ber- him, Foilge
rad's name occurs not, in the right line of
the O'Conor Faly pedigree ; but, he is "
mentioned, in Dr. O'Donovan's Annals shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
oftheFourMasters,"vohi. , pp. 162,163, at A. D. 501, as having slain Fiacha, son of
land Maps for the King's County," Sheets 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 33.
'-
The writer of a note, in Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," &c. , incorrectly has Wattstown, parish of Portlenon, and County the barony of Geashil, in the Queen's
Niall, at the battle of Freamhain, thought to be the hill of Fi-ewin, in the townland of
Westmeath. See ibid. , p. 89, n. (w. )
4 From him were descended, it is said, the great families of O'Conor Faly,
O'Dempsey of Clanmalier, and O'Dunne of
Hi or See O'Dono- Regan, Iregan. John
County.
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xix.
van's
''
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of
5 His festival was held, according to some Martyrologies, on the 19th of Februaiy.
As if all Hy-Failge were in the parti-
Februarii.
P- 371- 'See his
that year.
De S. Odrano Martyre, cap. v. ,
" "Index Chronologicus, at
Tripar-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 715
blessed him, and his children were in the district, at that time, when the Irish Tripartite Life was written.
Again, St. Patrick seems to have returned towards Lecale, in Ulster, although the exact course he took, through Leinster, cannot well be ascer- tained, from any of his biographers. However, we are informed, that he passed along the public highway, known as Midh-Luachra. ^^ In Mudornia,''
he found a company of carpenters, cutting down great oak or yew trees. '^ But, their axes were edgeless, and those poor men were quite wearied and out of breath, while the skin and flesh were torn from their hands, even to the very sinews and bones. Those wretched persons were slaves, belonging to Trian,'^9 son of Fiac, son to Amalgad. -° Those men are related, to have borne, in subjection and afiiiction, the rule of their cruel task-master ; so much so, that they were not allowed whetstones, to sharpen their axes or irons, in order that their work might become the heavier and more difficult.
The saint, compassionating their distress, gave them his blessing ; whereupon they recovered strength, their hands were healed, and their hatchets became
so sharply edged, that they cut the solid trees, with as little difficulty, as if these had been tender twigs. This prodigious effect of the saint's blessing continuedwiththem,untilsuchtimeasheprocuredtheirrelease. Toeffect this object, he went to their cruel lord ; but, Trian would not admit the saint's intercession, on behalf of those serfs.
Before the doors of that chief's castle, and at a place known afterwards as Rath-Trena, Patrick sought by watching, prayer, and fasting, to soften his obdurate heart. According to a curious custom'^* of our ancestors, our holy Apostle is said to have fasted, at or before Trian's fort ; but, without having his petition granted, ere he de- parted. The saint, after three days' fast and prayer, came again, with great submission, ta procure their exemption from bondage. But, he found this cruel chief to be like another Pharaoh. Presently Trian got up into his chariot, and with a design to aggravate still more the yoke of affliction. St.
'S With this computation, the Rev. Dr.
^° This seems to be a mistranscript for
Imchadh, as found in the pedigrees,
*' Some illustrations of this are practice
explained, in the Irish Laws of Plaintiff or
Creditor, and of those relating to Defendant
Lanigan seems to agree.
cal of History
"
See Ecclesiasti-
Ireland," sect, xi. , n. 114, p. 305.
vol.
i. , chap, vi. ,
**
According to the Tripartite Lives of
our saint. This is said to be the Moyry or Debtor, in the case of distraint. If the
Pass—also called Slighe-Midluachair—and Defendant or Debtor were a person of chief-
it lies between Dundalk and Newry. See tain grade, it was necessary, not only to give
""
the Ulster Journal of Archeology," in an article, on the Kilnasagart stone, which is near that pass. It was one of the principal roads, leading from Tara, into the north of Ireland. Its exact position has not been ascertained ; but, it is thought, to have ex- tended into the county of Down. See
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ix. , p. 314. Also, Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 102 to 105, and nn. (1, n). Also, vol. ii. , pp. 968, 969, and n. (x. ) See, likewise, John O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," Introduction, p. lix.
'? So is the district denominated, by
Jocelyn. Most likely, it was Crich-Mughdorn, or Cremorne, in the county of Monaghan.
'^
While the Irish Tripartite Life states, these trees to have been of yew, the Latin Tripartite calls them oak trees.
- '9 He is said to have been brother to St. Patrick's first Ulster convert, Trichem.
notice, but also to fast upon him. " This
fasting upon him consisted, in going to his residence, and in waiting there for a certain time without food. If the Plaintiff" did not, within a certain time, receive satisfaction for his claim, or a pledge for it ; forthwith, accompanied by a law-agent, witnesses, and others, he seized his distress. This equiva- lent, when seized, in certain cases was liable to a "stay," (rt«a<//4), which was a period, varying according to fixed rules, and during which the Debtor received back the distress, and retained it in his own keeping, the Creditor ttill having a lien upon it. The further proceedings up to and in case of for-
feiture are also fully explained in an
"
Intro- duction to the Brehon Laws of Ireland,"
vol. i. , p. xiv.
^^ The Latin Tiipartite Life thus records
" Quod videns vir Beatus prae-
this event
monendo, quam possit tyranno inferre vin- dictam, sputum ejecit, cujus pars cecidit in
:
7i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Patrick even wrought a miracle, to effect his purpose. "^ God, however, avenged the contempt, offered to his new Moses; for lo ! Trian's horses precipi-
tated themselves, and with great violence, into a stagnant pool of water, where the man of Belial was drowned. Then his captives, or slaves, were re-
stored to their long-expected liberty. In memory of this remarkable judg- ment, the pool or lake thenceforth received the denomination, Loch-Trena. =^3 He will not arise out of that lake, adds the Irish Tripartite, until the vespers of judgment, and, even then, it will not be to happiness.
Moved by this example, the wife of that king followed Patrick, in sighs and tears. She performed penance, and knelt before the holy man, so that she and her offspring might not suffer. Patrick blessed her and the beings she then carried in her womb. One of these was Setna,^-* or Sedna, otherwise called Sedonius,"5 and larlaid,^^ or Hiarlath,^^ was the other; and both were sons of Trian, being distinguished for their future sanctity. Sechnall^^ bap- tized Setna, and it was Patrick that baptized larlaid. The holy Apostle said, that the latter should be his successor afterwards, in the See of Armagh.
There was a man, who lived, about this period, in the country of Uladh,^9 and at a place called Magh-Inis,3° or " the Insular plain. " He is said to have been impious, and a son of death. s'' His name was ]\Iac Cuill,3^ Latinized, Machaldus, or ]Maccaldus,33 and he Avas leader of a robber band,34 who were plundering and killing the people, belonging to this region. On a certain occasion, the Blessed Patrick and his companions passed by ; and,
Maccaldus, from an eminence, perceived their approach. Full of malice, this tyrant3S desired to kill the holy missionary. 3"^ Mac-Cuill said to his
followers
:
" Behold the tailcenn'^^ and celebrated preacher of false doctrine,
that prophet, who is deceiving everyone, wishing to destroy the tenets and idols of our fathers ; teaching about a new and an unknown God ; let us arise, and make an attack on him, and then we shall see if his God can assisthim. " Thenitwasresolved,tolayasnareforthesaint. Therobbers brought one of their people, called Garbanus, or Garban, on a bier, as if he were
jacentem coram eis petram : qua tacta illico in tres partes coram oculis praesentium
divisa concrepuit ; una vero pars impetu subitaneo perlata est in locum valde remo-
It was also called Leth-cathuil. See Dr.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. i. , n. (w), p. 36.
3' In the Third Life, he is called Maguil.
See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxiii. , p. the Irish Tripartite Life, Two-thirds of 27. Probus calls him Mac-fail. See
tum. " Tlien, Patrick said, according to "
the fast on the rock, another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There shall not be a king nor roydamhna of the children of Trian. He shall die prematu- rely, and he shall go down to a bitter hell. "
"
'^ Anglicised
"< According to the Irish Tripartite Life. '^ So is the name written, in the Latin
Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ix. , x. , PP- 52, 53-
3^ Colgan refers his Acts and festival, to the 25th of April. Jocelyn calls \\\m Maguil. He is noted, in the Irish Tripar- tite Life, as in the text.
33 Thus is he noticed, in the Latin Tri-
partite Life.
3-» has his name et Jocelyn "Maguil, qui
Machaldus. " See cap. cli. , p. 98.
35 The Fourth Life of our saint calls him
See cap. Ixxxi. , p. 45.
the lake of Trian.
Life. He is said to have been venerated, on the i6th of June.
'^ According to the Irish Tripartite Life. ^7 According to the Latin Tripartite Life.
Tripartite
** The
a Cyclops. 3=' We are
saint of the county of Meath.
Dunshaughlin,
in
this man placed, on his own head and on the heads of his companions, certain diabolical signs,
which are called Diberc, so that all might behold, how devoted was their brotherhood to the service of S. itan.
37 This term, as addressed to our saint, is
*9
•
In Uladh, near Magh Inis, lived a chief,
Fierce man and fell. "
patron
told, by Jocelyn,
Thus commences one of Aubrey de Vere's
poems, headed, "St. Patrick and the Im-
postor ; or ]\Iac Kyle of Man. " See only in the Irish Tripartite Life.
"
3° Now Lecale, in the county of Down. coiTectly interprets its meaning in Latin,
Legends
of St. Patrick,"
pp.
86 to
93.
3** The author of the Fifth thus in- Life,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 717
dead,andtobepretentiouslyresuscitatedbySt. Patrick. Thus,theythoughtto
deceive our Apostle. The robbers threw a cover over the face and body of
""
their comrade. Cure for us," said they to Patrick, our companion, and
beseech your God to awake him from death. " " My debroth" 3^ replied the saint, "I should not wonder, if he were really dead. '' He also added : "the covering of Garban shall be the covering of a dead body ; but, I tell you even more, for it is Garban Avho shall lie under it. " His friends removed the covering from Garban's face, and they found it to be so. 39
became with fear and astonishment mute,
cried "
out, Truly
then
this is a man of God. " They were all moved to repentance, for their impious
act, and they believed at once, receiving baptism, and promising a change of
Mac Cuill professed the Faith, also, and he resolved on doing heroic
life.
acts of penance. He went to the sea, and embarked in a cot, formed out of one hide, obeying the command of Blessed Patrick. Garban was awakened from death, however, through tlie prayers of our Apostle. To satisfy more fully for his crimes, Mac Cuill made his confession, and he was told, to leave his native country and friends, to give all he possessed to the poor, and afterwards to live an austere life. That very day, he resolved to make a perpetual sacrifice of the world and of its goods. His right hand was kept, during the sea-course, towards Magh-Inis, and God's holy providence, guiding his bark over the waves, at last he reached Manann,t° or Eubonia,-'' now called theIsleofMan,intheIrishsea. ^^ Hefoundtheretwovenerablepersons,who had landed before him, on that island,''^ and who are called, Coninnri,''-* or Con- derius,'^5 and Romael*^ or Romailus. ''? These preached the word of God, and established the faith, in Manann ; and, through their teaching, the people ot that island were baptized, and they believed in Christ. '*^ Those missionaries were very exemplary, in their conduct and conversation. When they saw
"quod laboratis, non proderit vobis. " Col- gan renders it correctly, as "Deus mens
judicii," or, "judicem. "
39 Thus were verified the words of St.
Peter Chrysologus : "Qui jocari voluerit
that now bears his name. Released from
his perilous situation, he retired to the mountains. He there consecrated his life
to religion. Becoming exemplary for piety, at length he was elected bisliop over Man, by the wishes of the clergy and people. It is said, St. Brigid from Ireland visited him, owing to his reputation for sanctity. She is even said to have received the veil from his hands. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man," By a Resident, pp. 22, 23. How- ever, in tlie latter particular, Maughold has been confounded with St. Maccalle.
*3 The conversion of the Robber Chief, Machaldus, is told in Patrick Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts,"
pp. 327, 328.
^* He is thus designated, in the Irish Tri-
cum diab—olo, non poterit gaudere cum "
Christo. " Breviarium Romanum," iv. Dec. Noct. ii. , Lect. v.
*°Camdenhasit Menania,in"Britan-
nica," col. 1439. But, Orosius added the
letter M, as a prefix to the original Evania, and thus made the name, Mevania. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernipe,"
xiii. Januarii. De S. Connano Episcop. Mannise, n. 4, p. 60. From the latter
designation came Mannia, now iNIan.
•' Ard-Ebnanensis is also a name given to the Isle of Man. This denomination, Ard- ebnanensis, is considered to have been de-
rived, from Ard-Ebnana, the "hill of partite Life. In the Fourth Life, he is
Evania," or Man. The Irish called the
island, Eumhonia, i. e. Eubonia, as Gildas and others have it. They termed it, also,
called Conindrius, and his feast is referred, by Colgan, to the 17th of November,
^^ He is thus named, in the Latin Tripar-
*
Eumhania, or Exivania, whence came tite.
Evania. ^* So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
*^ The Manx have a legend, that St. Life. He is named Romulus, in the Fourth, Maughold, a leader of banditti in Ireland— Fifth and Sixth Lives, while Colgan refers
either as a punishment, or according to
his festival, to the l8th of November,
other accounts, a
by voluntary
'•'' Heisthusnamed,intheLatin tite Life.
act of After- wai-ds he was driven ashore, in a small boat, and on the north part of the island,
Tripar-
penance—was bound hand and foot.
; and,
they
*^ See Rev. J. R.
